Description:
This is a mathematics seminar with an eye on the Putnam
competition. We will focus on problem-based learning.
The main goals of the seminar are
to revisit some of the important concepts encountered in your undergraduate curriculum;
thus, showing connections and providing synthesis of mathematical
tools across disciplines and providing a deeper insight into them,
to help you master these concepts and ideas through problem-based learning,
to nurture a friendly research atmosphere among the students.

Topics to include:
mathematical induction, recurrence relations,
pidgeonhole principle and ramsey theory
elementary number theory,
inequalities, the extremal principle,
limits, series, sums, real functions,
polynomials and their roots,
linear algebra, determinants, eigenvalues,
euclidean geometry,
graph theory and games.
Particular topics will be choosen in accord with the interest
of the audience.
Last but not least, the seminar will help the interested students
to get information about the nationwide William Lowell Putnam Mathematics
Competition. You can find more info at
http://www.unl.edu/amc/a-activities/a7-problems/putnamindex.shtml.

Prerequisite:
MTH 215 and MTH 243, or equivalent.

Grading Your grade will be based
on weekly homework, the midterm and final exams.

Students with disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability is welcome to contact me as early in the semester as possible
so that we may arrange reasonable accommodations. As part of this process, please be in touch with
Disability Services for Students Office at 330 Memorial Union, 401-874-2098.